Not just for luvvies, London Fashion Week is serious business

Somerset House used to be the home of the Inland Revenue but these days it’s better known as home to London Fashion Week twice each year.

2015 is the event’s 61st year and over 250 designers, some very well-known and some less so, will send their models and autumn/winter creations down the catwalks for the whole world to see.

Front row at a show
Source: celebmafia.com

London Fashion Week is far more than celeb watching and wondering how the average person in the street could possibly afford, let alone be seen in, some of the more outlandish outfits – it’s key for the whole industry as it showcases the best of British fashion, and is a catalyst to increasing exports all over the world.

The industry plays a significant role in our economy, generating £26bn for the UK each year, bringing in £10.7bn from consumers and employs almost 800,000 people.

London Fashion Week gathers orders of some £100m during the five days and the shows are watched online by audiences in 190 countries worldwide, even if this time it’s gone head-to-head with the Oscars.

The spectacular outfits worn by some catwalk models can appear impractical, unaffordable and sometimes plain daft.

Traditionally, says the BBC website, the idea has been that the clothes and styles adopted by the richest in society eventually filter through and influence the rest of us, the so-called "trickle-down" theory - first put forward by the American economist and sociologist, Thorstein Veblen, in 1898.

This has changed over time but the high street is still influenced by what’s shown at London Fashion Week. Sometimes it’s the accessories used, sometimes colour palette, pattern or outfit shape, other times it can be the use of fabric or trim. Copies can appear in high street shops almost overnight, helped by retailers’ access to the internet.

In recent years designers have been collaborating with high street retailers to create affordable versions of their designs. That’s because they don’t only design for one or two special people, they want their designs to influence thousands.

Get Waisted’s owner and designer, Toni Pickles, attends London Fashion Week to take inspiration, gauge and forecast trends, and ultimately bring the latest fabrics, trends and designs through her own collections to her clients and customers in her boutique in Steyning, West Sussex.

Check out this video to see what happened at London Fashion Week Feb 2015

You can see more about Get Waisted on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact Toni on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 98aHigh Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

(with thanks to www.bbc.co.uk/news) 

We’re tigers on the catwalk

Fashion shows are a great way in which we showcase Toni’s bespoke fashion designs to a wider audience and normally raise money for charity at the same time.

When you see models for the larger brands on the catwalk, they often show clothing which isn’t intended to be purchased or worn by consumers. Designers choose fairly radical examples of their ideas to show the breadth of their creativity and then the garments are toned down so they are wearable and desirable for everyday customers.

It’s a bit like automotive brands displaying fantastic concept cars at motor shows. There’s never an intention to produce these models but they’re indicating a direction their designers might take over the coming years, and what they’re capable of making.

We’ve held some very well-attended fashion shows over the last year, culminating in the recent Most Spectacular Fashion Show, in Worthing. Even the Mayor of Worthing was in the front row! You can see some of our range of designer dresses, clothing, jewellery and accessories in this video: http://vimeo.com/96154823

Get Waisted will be featured at two more forthcoming events:

We’re helping to organise a charity event in wake of floods in the Balkans https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charity-Event-for-the-floods-in-Balkans/275352385978752

Date: 26 June, 7pm at the V and H Cafe, Holland Road, Hove BN3 1BA http://www.vhhollandroad.co.uk/

Vintage Tea Party and dress sale at the wonderful Sedgwick Park, Horsham, West Sussex http://www.sedgwickpark.com/index.php

This event will feature marvellous vintage designer dresses in a terrific setting. Put the date in your diary: June 28 from 3.30–7.30pm.

And finally, Toni’s planning a Get Waisted fashion show later in the year. Watch this space for more details. 

Most Spectacular Fashion Show, Worthing

If you’re inspired by any of the garments in the fashion show video, get in touch with Toni Pickles at Get Waisted for a consultation so you can have your own bespoke items made to measure.

You can also see more on www.getwaisted.co.uk

Moving on out, moving on up

Never ones to let the grass grow under our feet, Get Waisted fashion boutique is moving to bigger premises on Tuesday 4^th March. But we’re not going far, just three doors up in fact, above Vintage and Home at 94 High Street, Steyning. It’s bigger, with a separate studio, ‘consulting room’ and retail areas.

Preparations for the move are going well, as you can see here:

We know where everything is - really!

 Although no-one likes the packing and unpacking associated with moving, it’s highlighted the variety of items of clothing, jewellery, handbags, accessories, shoes and boots we have for sale – something for everyone.

We’ll be focusing more on made-to-measure for women and men, as well as alterations, and we’ll still be selling our usual ranges from our new boutique in Steyning.

Toni can ensure you get more wear from your favourite clothes by letting them out (if possible) or taking them in, or in the case of trousers or skirt hems, taking them up. Toni can also let you know if she is able to restyle an item of clothing if it needs updating and you just can’t bear to part with it!

In our new Steyning fashion emporium, we’ll also be featuring vintage and vintage-style items, like this:

Fashionable vintage

And for those of you who find this time of year difficult to dress for (and who doesn’t, is it still winter or is it spring yet?!), come in and see us so we can recommend the best styles and designs for you.

Get Waisted at this fashion show!

Coming up soon – our fashion show for Fenwick House girls’ boarding at Brighton College. This will be the third year we’ve been involved and you can see last year’s Bond-themed show, complete with Aston Martin here: http://vimeo.com/65000079. Watch this space for more details soon.

Whatever the occasion, Toni Pickles at Get Waisted (www.getwaisted.co.uk) is able to make a bespoke item of clothing for you. Toni’s background is in tailoring and she will advise on tone, fabric, design and cut. Whether it’s a made-to-measure suit, a sparkling prom dress or an outfit or two for a cruise, you can rest assured it won’t be seen anywhere on the high street as it’s been made especially for you!

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 94 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD (from 4^th March)

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

The Fashion Show Steyning has been waiting for!

We don’t think Steyning has seen anything like our recent Fashion Show.

Nearly 100 people came along, either sitting back enjoying the range of women’s dresses and accessories displayed on our beautiful models, or helping behind the scenes.

We had thirteen models altogether – ladies of all shapes and sizes – hair and make up team, lighting and music assistants, those serving drinks and canapés, selling raffle tickets, manning the welcome desk, not to mention the compère and those taking photos and shooting a video. It was a wonderful team effort, designed to make sure everyone had the best time possible.

There was much shimmying and sashaying along the catwalk as we showed the crème de la crème that Get Waisted has to offer in our boutique and on-line. We even auctioned a gorgeous black corset outfit modelled by Caitlin (see below).

The most important thing though (apart from showing that Steyning is clearly the centre of upmarket yet affordable glam and chic) is that we raised £300 for Chestnut Tree House (www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/) children’s hospice care.

This month we also took part in Steyning’s Late Night Christmas Shopping Extravaganza, where we welcomed more Get Waisted friends and customers with a hearty glass of mulled wine and festive mince pies. Once again, good fun was had by all!

We’re delighted we launched our arrival in Steyning with such a bang and we’ve certainly had many new visitors to our boutique in the high street as a result.

We still have plenty of unique women’s fashion clothes and accessories for those upcoming Christmas and New Year parties and we even have some you can hire. There’s just enough time if you need something special made bespoke too (but please don’t leave it too late!).

We’ve been up in London visiting buyers so we can bring you the very latest affordable designer and individually fashioned pieces before Christmas, so there’ll be new and exciting items arriving by the day.

Just give us a call on 01903 812992 or pop in to Get Waisted Boutique and we’ll tell you more.

Get Waisted watches London strut its stuff at LFW

So, here we are again! Valentine's is over, romance is dead...but London Fashion Week is here again!  And, dear readers, Get Waisted feels honour bound to let you know what (or who) is up. I even managed to get myself up there for the first day this year with all the attendant hullabaloo. I loved it. What an exciting atmosphere. London is really making its mark - perhaps even leaving traditional top tier events such as Milan Fashion Week trailing (London is expecting to attract over twice as many attendees to its catwalks - importantly including some of the top names who previously favoured Milan). Anyway, enough blowing our own trumpet. I enjoyed the shows from KTZ , PPQ and John Rocha all featured in the image below. The KTZ afterparty was pretty cool too - but hey ho, some of us had work to do so couldn't stay long.

KTZ, PPQ and John Rocha at LFW

As I have discussed here before, fashion is big business for the UK (estimated to be worth about £21billion!) and supporting some 816,000 jobs. Well, it seemed like nearly everyone of those people was in one queue or another on Friday - but it was certainly all worth it. It seems to me that London is getting back its (rightful?) crown that it held for fashion and creativity in the 1960's (and don't you dare go saying "I should know, I was there" - cheek!). With 'A' listers from Rihanna to Tom Ford choosing London this year we have to be doing something right.

Speaking of Tom Ford, who designed for Daniel Craig/James Bond and the Skyfall movie, I have one more piece of news for you. Get Waisted is delighted to again be working with Brighton College and the girls from Fenwick House to present a fashion show in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospice. Last year we raised more than £1500 and we aim to smash that record this year. The event is Bond themed and will be lots of fun. Check out the event on Facebook for more details and mark your diary for March 13th.

I think that's all for now fashion fiends. Of course, if you are inspired by something you see on the catwalks and would like your own interpretation don't hesitate to get in touch.

All you need to do is call me (Toni) on 07947 497342 or email Toni@getwaisted.co.uk and Get Waisted would be delighted to help.


Love Toni.

Love is in the air (and maybe a little snow)!

So here we are, snowbound as I write, and Valentine's Day is almost upon us. But before I start trying to get those creative juices flowing and showing you a few ideas I thought I would just give a little history.

If, like I did a few years ago, you thought Valentines Day was just an evil capitalist scheme dreamed up by Hallmark you couldn't be more wrong. In fact its origins can be traced back to pre-Christian times and the Pagan festival of Lupercalia. It seems Roman and subsequent Christian cultures 'adopted' Lupercalia on the basis of 'if you can't beat them, join them. Lupercalia was celebrated from 13 to 15 February in Roman times.

Whilst Lupercalia involved the 'encouragement' of female fertility through men stripping naked and whipping the backsides of young females with goatskin this can hardly be considered romantic love...although I can think of a few former...enough of that. The first linking of romantic love to Saint Valentine seems to have come with Chaucer in 1382 and his Parlement of Foules celebrating the engagement of Richard the II and Anne of Bohemia - "..for this was on Saint Valentines Day when every fowl cometh there to choose his mate" (rough translation).

The first recorded passing of a Valentines note seems to have been from a Frenchman (of course) captured after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 to his lover and subsequently imprisoned in The Tower. Throughout the 18th century the passing of notes became customary in England and in 1847 Esther Howland of Worcester Massachusetts starting producing cards in the US. In 1913 Hallmark produced their first cards and we were on the slippery slope. By 2010 the market was worth almost $15bil in retail sales in the US and over 1 billion Valentine cards sent worldwide making it second only to Christmas in this regard.

OK, and breathe. Hopefully you're still with me and we can take a look at a few ideas to get those pulses racing (now that's what I call target marketing).

A Get Waisted creation for Valentine's Day

As you can see we have moved on a little from Chaucer - you don't have to go all out 'vamp'. Here is a nice selection from Tight Flavor to illustrate the point.

At Get Waisted we like to add our own spin. As I may have mentioned, I just love corsets and what they can do for just about any woman. There are a few ideas (all from Get Waisted) above - I hope you like them.





Of course, if you want one of these or something similar with your own twist, well that's what bespoke is and the Get Waisted 'Raison d'etre'. Just call me, Toni, or email on toni@getwaisted.co.uk